The GLS 600 is not a luxury SUV in the conventional sense. It is what happens when Mercedes-Benz takes its flagship GLS platform and hands it to the Maybach atelier — the same craftsmen responsible for creating vehicles for heads of state and captains of industry. Every surface, every material, every system has been elevated beyond what you’ll find in any other production SUV on the market.

Inside, it seats four in a true first-class configuration. The rear executive seats recline, massage, ventilate, and adjust in dozens of ways. The ambient lighting system bathes the cabin in soft, customizable light. The Burmester 3D surround sound fills the space with concert-quality audio. The panoramic sunroof stretches across the entire roof. And outside, the distinctive Maybach two-tone paint, chrome trim, and 23-inch wheels signal exactly what this vehicle is before anyone has even opened a door.

Driving it is equally commanding. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with EQ Boost mild-hybrid produces 558 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. The air suspension reads the road ahead and adjusts in milliseconds. The result is a 6,000-pound vehicle that rides like a yacht and accelerates like a sports car.

This is the GLS 600. There is nothing else like it.